Arsenal favourite Robert Pires has been training with his old club – but manager Arsene Wenger says he will not be signing the Frenchman.

The winger was at London Colney in full training gear today. But Wenger played down rumours of a shock comeback for the 39-year-old.

Wenger told a press conference ahead of the Champions League match against Napoli: “No Robert Pires will not join us: he was born in 1973. He is still very fit and a great player and we are always happy to have him in training but he just occasionally comes in to practice.

“It’s a great opportunity. He practices with the young players with the under-21 team, and I feel always there is no better education than playing players at that age with top-level players.”

Of course, Wenger also initially claimed that Pires’ former team-mate Mathieu Flamini was only at the club to work on his fitness, and he is now a key member of the first-team once again.

The duo were reunited with another former Gunner, Sol Campbell, at the training ground today.

Campbell doesn’t appear to be in good enough shape to spark rumours of a comeback for him.